[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟘
“For it was of the LORD to harden
their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy
them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as
the LORD had commanded Moses.”
Wow! God hardened the hearts of the
enemies that they might go out to fight and die by the sons of Israel.
God hardened the heart of Pharaoh.
He perished at the Sea in his pursuit of the Israelites.
God hardened the heart of Judas
Iscariot to betray Christ, and the death of Christ brought Salvation to many.
Problems, Troubles, Challenges in a
life of a Christian are to (allow us to) experience God in a different way.
Even Job's suffering was the defeat of Satan.
May I not be dismayed nor
discouraged when the tough time comes. O Lord, may I be like David, not like
Saul. May I be courageous, not a coward!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟚:𝟞
"Moses the servant of the LORD
and the sons of Israel defeated them; and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it
to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a
possession."
Moses is mentioned twice in this
verse (and that's all in this chapter). Each time he is mentioned, he is
identified as "the servant of the LORD," not a mighty man, a faithful
man, or a great man of God. The world (even the churches and Christians) loves
to give and receive flaunty titles.
May I make my ambition to not desire
after any title than that a minister of God is an unprofitable servant just
doing his duty!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟛:𝟙
"Now Joshua was old and
advanced in years when the LORD said to him, 'You are old and advanced in
years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed.'"
Works are not yet done, not yet
over, not yet completed! Only God is my strength and comfort!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟚
"Now then, give me this hill
country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that
Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with
me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken."
An 85 years old man still fighting
the Canaanites while the younger generations were living along with them. What
a contrast!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟝:𝟞𝟛
"Now as for the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the
Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem until this day."
These guys might be braver than me
but they are cowards in the eyes of God and compared to Caleb. Cowardice to
Conquer brought them Judgment upon the land.
Centuries later, David, a brave
warrior conquered it. God made his Kingdom everlasting through his descendant,
Messiah!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟞:𝟙𝟘
"But they 𝕕𝕚𝕕
𝕟𝕠𝕥
𝕕𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖
𝕠𝕦𝕥
𝕥𝕙𝕖
𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕤
who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day,
and they became forced laborers."
Cowards. Easily satisfied.
Compromised. 𝚃𝚑𝚎
𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎
𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍
𝚋𝚎
𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍
𝚘𝚏
𝚖𝚢
𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗!😬
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟚
"But the sons of Manasseh
could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in
living in that land."
The next generation enjoying the
achievement and inheritance left behind by the previous generations. They were
just irresponsible and not leaving anything for the coming generation!
The adage "No pain no
gain" was true, is true, and will still be true!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟠:𝟛
"So Joshua said to the sons of
Israel, 'How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?'"
Another chapter, another reminder
of the same lesson!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟙𝟡:𝟜𝟡
“When they finished apportioning
the land for inheritance by its borders, the sons of Israel gave an inheritance
in their midst to Joshua the son of Nun.”
After everything is done, a leader
also needs to be rewarded well!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟚𝟘:𝟛
"that the manslayer who kills
any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they
shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood."
There will not be perfect justice
on earth, but God has given us some standards of justice.
Navigating what's just and what's
not is tough. When I am guilty, I want mercy. When I am a victim, I want
justice. The others want the same!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟚𝟙:𝟜𝟝
"Not one of the good promises
which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."
What a testimony of the
faithfulness of God! Sometimes I doubt the promise of God, not because God is
untrustworthy but because of my failures and unworthiness!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟚𝟚:𝟝
"Only be very careful to
observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD
commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His
commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with
all your soul."
Can we be too careful? Certainly
not!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟚𝟛:𝟙𝟝
"It shall come about that just
as all the good words which the LORD your God spoke to you have come upon you,
so the LORD will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you
from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you."
This verse stands out in chapter
23. What a fearful God I serve!
𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕒
𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟘
"But I was not willing to
listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you, and I delivered you from his
hand."
I won't be surprised if some people
expect or wish me to fall, and I won't be surprised if they get disappointed
because of God who holds me fast!